The Three Treasures

For quite a few years now, I have been earnestly repeating what is probably one of the most common recitations in all of Buddhism - The Three Treasures. It goes like this (in our lineage):

I take refuge in Buddha, and resolve that with all beings I will understand the great way whereby the Buddha-seed may forever thrive.

I take refuge in Dharma, and resolve that with all beings I will enter deeply into the sutra treasure, whereby my wisdom may grow as vast as the ocean.

I take refuge in Sangha, and in it's wisdom, example and never failing help, and resolve to live in harmony with all beings.

Sounds weird, doesn't it?

I was raised in the west, my parent's were Christian as were most of my friends. Growing up, I didn't know any Buddhists (at least, if I did, they weren't saying). So why would I grow up and begin to repeat something so odd and foreign?

I have to admit that when I started practice, I didn't really 'get it'. The Three Treasures sounded weird to me then too. However, as I learned some Buddhist 'lingo' it became at least intelligible, even though it was still kind of weird. Buddha, of course, usually refers to 'The Buddha', the guy (just a guy, not a God or anything, just a guy) who figured out a way to become happy. So, I guessed, I was kind of taking refuge in him. Whatever that meant.

The Dharma is the body of teaching that he created through his life, recorded in the sutras. There are a lot of sutras (the Buddha taught for decades). If you collect them all they take up a fairly well-sized bookcase. So, I guessed I was kind of taking refuge in that too.

Finally, the Sangha is the group of people who follow the Buddha’s teaching. It's sort of the Buddhist word for 'congregation'. So … wha? …taking refuge?

I was still lost. I still didn't get it. How can I 'take refuge' in a dead fat guy, and what he taught, and all the people who decided to follow his teachings? What's up with that? It didn’t make any sense. Then, I gradually began to realize that there were other meanings, other shades, to the words Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

Buddha actually means 'awake'. That's why they called him ‘the Buddha’, he was 'the guy who was awake' (i.e. wise). So taking refuge in Buddha, means taking refuge in being aware, being mindful, being awake. I could see that a bit more. I'm saying that I think it's important to stay aware and mindful instead of daydreaming or dipping into all those psychologically unhealthy habits like denial, repression, transference, and stuff like that. I'll stay here, in this reality, right here, right now. That strikes me as a good idea. I'll buy that.

Dharma not only means the Buddha's teaching, it also means 'the truth'. If you punch a wall, you're hand hurts - that's Dharma (whether you're Buddhist or not). Its just reality - the way things are. Dharma. So I'm taking refuge in reality as it really is, I'm accepting the insight I gain into reality and using that insight as my base camp for deeper exploration into reality, and so on, and so on, more and more insight, deeper and deeper into reality. Sounds good.

Finally Sangha. Sangha means not only all the Buddhists, but everyone. If, as Buddhism teaches, we are all 'not-two', then how can we split the population into any sort of 'us' and 'them'? There's no true difference between me and a 'not Buddhist'. None at all. So I'm taking refuge in the connection I have with all the other people (‘Buddhist’ or no), as well as all the other animals, rocks, trees, dust... everything. I'm taking refuge in the harmony that flows between this 'me' and everything else.

So another way to think of the Three Treasures (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha) is to re-label them as 'Awareness, Insight and Harmony'. When we are aware, we gain insight. When we integrate that insight into our life, we find more harmony. Each day, you could say that I am actually saying:

I take refuge in awareness, and resolve that with all beings I will understand the path through which we may become more aware of reality.

I take refuge in insight, and resolve that with all beings I will enter deeply into the wisdom that the universe presents to all of us, when we pay attention.

I take refuge in inter-being harmony, and resolve that I will enter into, and learn from this harmony, and work to enhance that harmony so that all beings may benefit.

OK, so now it's getting to a point where it actually sort of makes sense, except for one thing. What about this 'refuge' thing? Taking refuge? What exactly am I taking refuge from? When I think of 'taking refuge' I think of getting out of the rain, or running into my countries consulate when I'm being attacked in a foreign country (or maybe running into a church when I'm being chased my vampires). But none of that is happening right now, so what am I taking refuge from?

From unhappiness. From that dread feeling in my gut that I'm not good enough. From depression, anxiety, sloth, mania, cynicism, ennui, anger, greed, and all the other thought-feelings that arise within me and cause me to be unhappy.

How does that work? (I hear you ask). Well, when one of these "unhappymaking" sensations arises within me, what should I do?

Usually, I try to escape them. I like potato chips a lot. I can easily lose an evening on the TV, if I'm really frustrated I could get away from the frustration that way. Or I could have a few drinks to take the edge off. The edge off what? Why, the unhappiness of course. Or I could sit and think about sex for a while (OK, hours actually), and then go do it, and then sit and think about how fun that was. Or I could take refuge in a hot bath. Mmmmm. Love those. With a good book. Great refuge. Really, there are an almost infinite sort of 'refuges' I could take.

But what the Buddha taught way back then (and what many stress therapist today teach) is that avoidance doesn't work. You can try 'taking refuge' in escapism, but at the end of the day, it just ain't gonna work. You've got to face whatever mess you're in. And that means sitting in it.

Angry? Bored? Sad? Frustrated? Good. Be frustrated. Don't go fanning the flames and building up the frustration to a maniacal rage. And don’t deny it, or try and push it away. Don’t be like those people who, with red faces and clenched fists scream “I’M NOT ANGRY, DAMMIT!”

Just allow yourself to be as frustrated as you actually are. Just watch it, the way you’d watch leaves drift down a slow river. With a “that’s interesting” sort of mind. With the same sort of approach you’d have if I asked you to sit still and watch your mind carefully, asking “I wonder what the next thought that comes into my mind will be”? Look for the tension in your guts, or your chest, or the back of your arms. Where is it? What does it feel like? If you tried to describe it, what words would you use? Crushing? Burning? Squeezing? Knotting? Just watch it.

A student once asked a Zen teacher if he ever got angry, and the teacher said “Oh yes, of course I do”. Surprised, the student asked ‘Well, what do you do”? And the teacher said, “I agree.”

I remember once getting really nailed by life. Something was happening that I just did not want to face. I couldn’t face it. I was panicked. There was just no way that I could take it, like a claustrophobe being wrapped up in a carpet with their arms tucked in, and someone sitting on top of them tickling there nose with a feather. AHHHHH!

But the problem was, I was really nailed. There was nothing I could do about it, there was absolutely no escape. So I just had to lie there, wrapped up in my metaphorical carpet, taking it.

It took about 4 hours or so, but the panic that I had been running away from, over and over again, for most of my life arose, lingered, and then – shockingly to me! – dissipated. Like a bad fart in an elevator.

Hey! What do you know! It’s just a sensation, and they AREN’T REAL. All the panic, all the years of fear, they were just an illusion. Sure, it’s uncomfortable. I’d rather NOT be wrapped up in a carpet, but you know, if it happens again – I’ll survive. The panic is gone, and now, each time it happens, it bugs me less and less. One day I’ll be blasé about the whole thing (not today yet, though).

Gradually, I’m learning to ease into my ‘unhappymaking’ sensations the way I’ve learned to ease in to a hot bath, or the way I’ve learned to relax when I have to pee. Just relax, just let be. It’s OK.

If I remain aware of what is going on, watching it instead of mentally escaping, then I learn stuff (like the fact that there really isn’t anything to be afraid of, when I thought there really was), and by acting on that stuff I learn how to flow with life more, how to let the guy beside me in the elevator fart without screaming “OH GOD! NOOOOO!” It’s just a fart. These things happen, and it’s OK (though not great). That’s harmony.

So what I’m saying every day when I recite the Three Treasures is that I’m going to pay attention. I’m going to learn from what happens to me, and I’m going to use what I learn to become a better person. Not only for my sake, but for everyone’s sake. I take refuge in the Three Treasures: awareness, insight and harmony. I take refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

How odd. How wonderful!

Wouldn’t you like it if your kids grew up and did that?